Bonhams holds its fifth annual Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction on January 8 at Bally’s Hotel & Casino, offering around 230 American, Japanese and European two-wheelers as well as a selection of vintage motorcycle posters, parts and collector’s items.
The headliner is a group of rare British bikes from the collection of Vincent motorcycle expert Herb Harris of Texas, including such special machines as the 1946 Vincent HRD 1X Prototype Series B V-twin – the first post-war Vincent made – the 1954 Vincent Black Prince Prototype, a bright-red 1949 Vincent Rapide C with matching Blacknell Bullet sidecar, plus classic motorcycles from BSA, Matchless and AJS.
The Harris collection also features a dozen cutaway show engines from English manufacturers BSA, Ariel, Matchless, Norton, Sunbeam and Triumph. There also are two complete BSA motorcycles that have been sectioned to show their inner workings.
A number of other premium motorcycles from England will be auctioned, including a spectacular and concours-winning 1938 Bough Superior SS100 and a 1938 Rudge Special 500, along with 1950-70s Triumphs, Nortons and BSAs that are ready to ride.
Italian bikes are well-represented, including those coming from the Jack Silverman Museum Racing Collection of Ducati motorcycles. Competition bikes include a 1995 Ducati Supermono from Sound of Singles road racing and a 1957 F.B. Mondial 250cc Bialbero GP raced by Mike Hailwood.
The Harley-Davidson and Indian motorcycles at auction date to the early days of motorcycling, and include a selection of restored vintage models from a private collection.
There also will be a few celebrity bikes, such as those once owned by Easy Rider co-stars Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper.
For more information about the Bonhams motorcycle auction, see Bonhams.com.
